Veterans

TEB

(13,689 posts) Mon Jun 24, 2019, 04:51 AM Jun 2019

I met some fine NCO's in my three years

Was talking to my nephew this morning he is on staff at benning. He was on his way home after CQ to see his wife at their ranch home in phenix city Alabama. He makes me smile I text him you up and he text back call you in a bit. He had to get the hogs up and moving for a new day at the OSUT ass and trash infantry program I say hogs with fondness as I was a hog once as I quote my senior Drill at benning in 84.

The senior Drill He would say slop the hogs To the junior Drills , as we marched off to mess hall. Standing outside smelling the chow being cooked in the WW2 built mess hall Harmony church, our stomachs rumbling because we were up at 03:00 the first ringer of the day PT perhaps it was a day where they put us down at 23:00and we’re up after four hours maybe only three hours of sleep if you had fire guard , sweetness of sleep as we escape into the black from this shit we volunteered for.

And before you ate after bone crushing PT leg lifts mountain climbers push ups a three mile run you owed the Drills pull ups or monkey bars the Drills in our assholes you gotta earn it. And chow there is not a luxury you learn to eat fast, then head out and stand in formation and get ready for another 20 hour day. The infantry Drills best the army has to offer you wearing that pumpkin patch that shows you’re a Drill sgt you’re a professional like my nephew.

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Highlight:

I met some fine NCO's in my three years (Original Post) TEB Jun 2019 OP

I was a warrant officer/pilot assigned duty as convoy officer (twice) in Vietnam .. DemoTex Jun 2019 #1

My father was HERD trooper TEB Jun 2019 #2

Glad you made it home TEB Jun 2019 #3

As young officers GP6971 Jun 2019 #4

DemoTex

(25,595 posts)

1. I was a warrant officer/pilot assigned duty as convoy officer (twice) in Vietnam ..

Reply to TEB (Original post)

Mon Jun 24, 2019, 05:47 AM

Jun 2019

When our unit in Nha Trang stood-down, I was assigned as OIC on two convoys down QL-1, through the notorious Nha Trang Pass, to Cam Ranh Bay. I was a 23 year old Army CWO-2 with no combat experience other than flying (and Basic & AIT).

Fortunately, the convoy NCOIC was a salty Master Sargeant on his third tour in Vietnam. He and I were to ride together in the command jeep behind a heavly armed Duce-and-a-Half (20mike-mike duster).

"Sir," the 40+ year old sarge said to me, "you just sit back and enjoy the ride. Take some pictures with that camera you have. I'll run this motherfucker if you will let me." That was music to my ears!

We got into the tail-end of a VC ambush against a ROC convoy ahead of us that was hit when they stopped at the RR crossing in the pass. Thank god for the NCO with two tours with the 173rd, combat at Dak To, and a Silver Star and CIB!